How to Perform Salat ?

How to Perform Salah (Islamic Prayer) Step by Step

Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and is performed five times a day:

Fajr – Before dawn (2 Rak’ahs)
Dhuhr – Midday (4 Rak’ahs)
Asr – Afternoon (4 Rak’ahs)
Maghrib – After sunset (3 Rak’ahs)
Isha – Night (4 Rak’ahs)

Preparation for Salah

Purity (Wudu - Ablution)
- Before praying, you must be in a state of purity by performing wudu (ablution).
- If you are in a state of major impurity (e.g., after intercourse or menstruation), perform Ghusl (full body purification).
Wear Clean & Modest Clothing
- Men: Must cover from the navel to the knees.
- Women: Must cover their entire body except for the face and hands.
Face the Qibla (Direction of Kaaba in Makkah)
- Stand in the direction of Makkah (Kaaba).
Intention (Niyyah)
- Silently intend in your heart which prayer you are performing.

How to Perform Wudu (Ablution)

Wudu (ablution) is the purification process required before performing Salah (prayer) in Islam. Here’s a simple guide to performing Wudu correctly:

1. Make the Intention (Niyyah)

In your heart, intend to purify yourself for prayer.
No need to say it out loud—just have the intention in your mind.

2. Say "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah)

Before starting, say: بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ (Bismillah – "In the name of Allah").

3. Wash Your Hands (3 times)

Wash both hands up to the wrists three times.
Make sure water reaches between your fingers.

4. Rinse Your Mouth (3 times)

Take water into your mouth, swish it around, and spit it out.

5. Clean Your Nose (3 times)

Inhale water into your nose with your right hand and blow it out using your left hand.

6. Wash Your Face (3 times)

Wash from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear three times.

7. Wash Your Arms (3 times each)

Start with the right arm, washing from the fingertips up to the elbow three times.
Repeat the same for the left arm.

8. Wipe Your Head (1 time)

Wet your hands and wipe your head from the front to the back and then back to the front.

9. Clean Your Ears (1 time)

Use your wet index fingers to wipe inside your ears and your thumbs to wipe the back of your ears.

10. Wash Your Feet (3 times each)

Wash your right foot, ensuring water reaches between the toes and up to the ankles, three times.
Repeat the same for your left foot.

11. Say the Shahada After Finishing

After completing wudu, say:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ الله
"Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah."
(I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Messenger.)

Important Notes for Wudu

✅ Wudu is broken if you:

Use the bathroom.
Pass gas.
Fall into a deep sleep.
Bleed significantly.

✅ If wudu breaks, you must perform it again before praying

Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Salah

1. Takbir (Opening the Prayer)

Raise both hands to shoulder or ear level and say:"Allahu Akbar" (الله أكبر) – Allah is the Greatest

2. Qiyam (Standing & Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha)

Place right hand over the left on your chest.
Recite:
- Opening Supplication (Optional)
- Surah Al-Fatiha (Compulsory)
- Another Surah or verses from the Qur'an (In the first 2 Rak’ahs)

Example:

Surah Al-Fatiha (Required in Every Rak’ah)"Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alameen…" (Surah Al-Fatiha 1:1-7)
Short Surah (e.g., Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4)"Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad..."

3. Ruku (Bowing)

Say: "Allahu Akbar"
Bend at the waist with your hands on your knees, keeping your back straight.
Recite three times:"Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem" (سبحان ربي العظيم) – Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great.

4. I’tidal (Standing After Ruku)

Stand up straight and say:"Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah" (سمع الله لمن حمده) – Allah hears those who praise Him.
Then say:"Rabbana lakal hamd" (ربنا لك الحمد) – Our Lord, to You is all praise.

5. Sujood (Prostration)

Say "Allahu Akbar" and go into sujood (prostration).
Forehead, nose, both hands, knees, and toes must touch the ground.
Recite three times:"Subhana Rabbiyal A’la" (سبحان ربي الأعلى) – Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.

6. Sitting Between Two Sujood

Sit upright with hands on thighs and say:"Rabbighfir li" (رب اغفر لي) – O my Lord, forgive me.

7. Second Sujood

Perform another sujood as before, saying:"Subhana Rabbiyal A’la" (سبحان ربي الأعلى) (3 times).

8. Rising for the Next Rak’ah

Say "Allahu Akbar" and stand up for the next Rak’ah.
Repeat the same steps as the first Rak’ah.

Final Sitting & Tashahhud (After Last Rak’ah)

After completing the required number of Rak’ahs, sit in Tashahhud position and recite:

At-Tahiyyat
"At-tahiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt, as-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ‘alaynā wa ‘alā ‘ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa-Allāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh."
Meaning: "All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger."
Salawat (Durood Ibrahim)
"Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdu m-ajīd.
Allāhumma bārik ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdu m-ajīd."
Meaning: "O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious."
Dua Before Ending Salah (Optional)
Example: "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, waqina ‘adhaban-nar."
Meaning: "Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201

9. Tasleem (Ending the Prayer)

Turn your head to the right and say:"As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah"
Turn your head to the left and repeat:"As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah"

🎉 You have now completed Salah! 🎉